Please don't report me to Social Services!!!

Ok, so now that we have a little puppy our neighbors let us borrow this not-so-little crate. Well...I can't keep the kids out of it. They think it is their little clubhouse. Ryland likes to tell me he is having a party and takes ALL his toys in there. Seriously, I know this can't look good...but boy does this make it easy to get stuff done...JUST KIDDING! I try to keep them out, but they just look like they are having so much fun. Check out Addie's crazy faces as she is trying to do her best wild animal impression! What wild animal makes those crazy faces? Only she knows!

Another fun thing lately is their new Power Team with the neighbor kids. They apparently have a clubhouse of sorts and go on little adventures between the 2 houses. Ryland, AKA #12, will say "Go see Power People" and I think they are about to turn Leyla into wonder-dog. It's fun to have neighbors with young kids!

We also just had a great weekend with my mom, AKA Nana, and Grandpa Ted. We went to the Virginia Creeper, highly recommended by Annie, and really had a great time. Our camera battery died, but we did get a couple shots on Richard's phone. Ryland was in a little pull-behind wagon type thing. I didn't realize how much dirt he was getting in his face until the end...poor little guy, but he didn't complain much. I think he is most happy covered in dirt!

Four!

Wow, I am at a loss for words...my precious little baby girl, my first born, my little dancer, angel, princess, and bunkin head...has blessed our lives for 4 years. In these last 4 years her life has brought laughter, tears, smiles, humility, vulnerability, inspiration, and blessing! I have had many moments of feeling "in over my head," and more than once needed to ask her for forgiveness, but through it all God has been changing me, humbling me, and preparing me for the road ahead which, as much as I want to freeze this age, I am thrilled to travel with her (and hopefully she will still WANT me with her as she grows into a little teenager...yikes!). I love her with all of my heart. I love that I see bits of Richard, my first love, in her. I love that I see Christ's love in and through her. I love that she has taught me unconditional love. I just love Addison Grace King and she is now 4...our still little very BIG GIRL! And for her big birthday we had a great party with family and friends to share this big day with. Here are some pictures from the big day and the BIG SURPRISE!

She was thrilled with all of her presents, but this fishing pole from Poppy got a little extra hug!



Even Ryland came away with a present from Poppy!

We played some great games...this one a particular hit. I think we will decorate her secret passage way with these feet and hand prints from all her friends and cousins!

THE PRESENT...it is a bottomless box with a puppy in it. She started to tear the paper off but we kept saying "just pick it up." So she picked it up while still focusing on tearing off the paper, not noticing the little pup crawl out from underneath. She finally turned the box over to find out it was empty and sadly tossed it down thinking there was nothing in it and it was just a trick. Meanwhile the puppy is scurrying off...eventually she realizes the puppy was in the box and is hers, but boy did it give us some laughs. It is a riot to watch back on tape too! And needless to say...she is IN LOVE, as are we!

Here are just some pictures from my few flowers in the back yard. Next year we will do better, but the kids really do love helping me out there...especially if it involves water in any way. Some of their favorite things now are...getting wet (whether via a pool, hose, river, shower, rain, etc.), picking up bugs (Ryland especially loves to pick up ants...and he is even drawn to bees - it is AMAZING he hasn't gotten stung yet!), going to get coffee (I am afraid we are starting them young thinking that coffee is a treat...they get choc milk), playing with the new little neighbor boy (I think Addie has a bit of a crush), playing with dogs (please come over and visit our new little pup...she is a cutie!), and playing with each other (their relationship is really precious and I am so thankful for their friendship). I could go on...and maybe I will later, but now I must get to bed so I can get up in the morning early and run. I have a new goal of running a half marathon with Annie in October...there, I said it, it is out there somewhere in cyberspace written in invisible ink...now I must follow through...right?!

We love you all and thank you for being a part of the last four years of Addison's life. We are so blessed to have such a great community of friends and family to ride this journey of raising a precious little girl. You have all touched her life in a special way and helped shape her into the spirited, loving, and joyful little girl she is.

We are coming out of the woods!

We headed out to the woods the other day. We found a great secret little waterfall, if only the water wasn't soooo low...it would have been perfect! The kids love to get dirty and wet and somehow it seems that the theme recently has been getting caught in a little afternoon rain. One time the kids and I got drenched hiking up to Catawba Falls, then this day we all were caught in a little rain...including a downpour during the jeep ride home. This seems to be a trend in the jeep too, but the kids love it and laugh the whole way home each time. I have to say that I too love the occasional afternoon thunderstorm during the summer. In Florida we had them all the time and I would love to go out to the beach just to watch the lightening...I miss that.

Throughout my life the woods and have always been so refreshing and being out in them was like jumping in a cold stream...refreshing, invigorating, and always cleared my head. It is still that way...and what a treat to pass that on to our kids I hope. I don't do it enough, but hopefully as they grow in that love too we will remind each other to escape to the woods for a little fun, laughter, and PERSPECTIVE!

Richard enjoys the outdoors often more through his lens. I think he loves a challenge...whether in sports, work, or in trying to capture beauty on film.

Just one other note...the dog (in the last post) is a no go! We are very sad...Addison never really knew that we were planning for her to come permanently and I am thankful she didn't know. I guess Molly will just be our cousin! On that note...keep us in mind if you hear of a cutie little dog that needs a home!

And for the few people that check my blog...if any of you know some great spots to hike, play in waterfalls, or get dirty...PLEASE SHARE! Maybe we can go with some of ya'll!

Happy Not-So Independance Day

Well, the title may need a bit of explaining, but to say in short...I am not so sure how much of our independence we really maintain. I love America and am so thankful that we live here, but I also think that many of us are living under the false reality of freedom that we are fed by those by who are slowly and slyly chipping away at it...BUT, on that all too chipper note, let us focus on the things we KNOW to be true! We have each other and a great community to celebrate life with...and we have an amazing God that has given us ultimate freedom by His ultimate sacrifice!

So...here I go jumping back in to sharing bits of our lives after an extended absence! I think I will have to spread the word that we are back, hopefully for a while, but no promises! Life has been busy, good, and always changing. We have taken a great family trip to Charleston and Folly Beach which was perfect...relaxing, funny, and just us...which is somewhat unusual for our "family" trips. Richard and I escaped on a romantic little trip Hilton Head while the kiddos stayed with Nana and Grandpa Ted...thanks guys! We all had fun. Also this Spring and Summer, Richard took a weekend with the guys and I took a weekend with my girls

My girl's weekend!















Addison's first dance recital...little yellow polka dot bikini!

We have also been spending a lot of time with our little friend Will as Annie and I have been switching back and forth watching each other kids while we try to work a bit. It has been great fun and they have gotten to spend a lot of time at Camp Merrimac with Annie (her husband is the camp director). I asked Addison the other day what she wanted to be when she grows up and she said "a camper!"

Addison and I on a girl's night in Asheville to get our hair done, get dinner, and ice cream!

The most recent happening is that we have been "borrowing" a puppy this last week that Addison, and the rest of us, have been falling in love with. She is a beautiful boxer with the sweetest personality...we are thinking this may become permanent, but have some details to work out yet...so no promises! I guess you would call it "loan to own."

Well...what can I say, it is good to be back! I have enjoyed reading all the blogs of those who are more consistent than I. Thanks for checking back with us! We are blessed to have you all in our lives!

Bring on the rain!

Spring is just around the corner and we are brimming with excitement. A few days of warm weather has wet our appetite for the Spring...and apparently brought about some Spring showers...ok, maybe they could not be classified as "Spring Showers," but at least it is getting close!

I gave in today to the constant question, "Mom, I wanna go play in the rain! Mom, Mom, MOOOOOM!" I thought let's do it, let's just show these kiddos just how miserable that really is! Well, I was wrong...they had a blast, as did I watching them give in to all those things we get so used to squelching...splashing in the puddles, getting filthy, splashing their brother/sister...BRING IT ON, RAIN! Let it pour! We will celebrate the warm weather rain or shine. You can't rain on our parade...we will parade on...and love every minute of it. Ok, enough about the rain...back to SPRING!!!!!

Some of the joys that this Spring will bring...our very first vegetable and herb garden!!!, planting flowers, enjoying our back yard with my flagstone terrace I made last fall (come grill-out with us!) - it's not so even, but charming just the same!, Easter Eggs, sundresses (some to be sewn by yours truly!!! - another new adventure of mine), picnics, camping and hiking, trip to the beach...we are thinking Charleston somewhere, letting the kids play in the dirt barefoot...maybe even a new pet (Addison has been begging for one...maybe we will just start with a hermit crab!)! "These are just a few of my favorite things..." Oh, I can hardly sit still just thinking about all the fun things to do this Spring...HOPE is Springing anew! Ok, enough I know!

Let me just say "WE LOVE YOU, SPRING!"

We are blessed, life is full, and God is good...oh, so GOOD!

Florida Trip

Well, we are so very fortunate to have family in sunny Florida to visit during the cold long winter up here. We all took a trip down there just after the new year to see my sister, Rosie, and her family (Joleigh, Jozlyn, Justin, and Doug), and my dad and Lisa. We also stopped in to see our good friend Jon and his cutie pie little girl Sydnie, one of Addie's best little friends. What a great trip! We really packed a lot in and had loads of fun...I think Rye's picture kind of sums up how we all felt after the whole trip...blissfully exhausted! While we were with Dad he took us on a trip via boat down to Key West, a first for me. We really had fun exploring the town, going to a butterfly sanctuary (which Addie loved, especially after Noni "helped" one to land on her with a little coaxing), visiting the southernmost spot in the US, eating, even swimming as you saw in one of the previous posts of our underwater baby! (despite the unusually cold temperatures down there...burrrrrr!) Thanks, Dad and Lisa...it was such a great memory with you!

While we were in Fl we also visited a bit with my cousin Sheila and her beautiful family (we really loved our evening with you all), my sister (despite her poorly timed sickness...I wish so much we could have been with you more...I love you!) and her lovely family, and a friendly dolphin. There is so much to say about this trip, but I will just let you see some pictures so you don't become board with a long post!

Breakfast sitting out by the pool at the beautiful place Dad took us in Key West!

Addie being visited by some sweet butterflies...thanks to a little help from Noni and some cantaloupe!

The sweet dolphin that came right up to us on Dad's boat! What a treat!

The kids with their Fl cousins Jozlyn and Joleigh and their new little puppy!

Riding the jeep with Sydnie